Our study investigated the relationship between problem based learning (PBL) and general chemistry laboratory students' attitudes and self-efficacy beliefs in summer 1 and fall semester in 2012 at a Mid-Western university. The PBL instruction took four sessions and students' attitudes and self-efficacy beliefs were measured using the Chemistry Attitudes and Experiences Questionnaire. The following inferential statistics were carried out to interpret the data: t-tests, analysis of variance and Pearson correlations. Results from this study indicated a positive relationship between students' self-efficacy beliefs in both summer 1 and fall semesters. However, a difference in attitude scores was observed only in summer 1 but not in the fall semester. A positive correlation was observed between attitude and self-efficacy beliefs scores in both summer 1 and fall semesters. Our results indicate that PBL has a potential in improving students' attitudes and self-efficacy beliefs.

Influence of problem based learning on chemistry students' attitudes and self-efficacy beliefs

246th National Meeting (2013)

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